In 1989, Gesell was the presiding judge in the government's case against National Security Adviser Oliver North, who was convicted of aiding and abetting obstruction of a congressional inquiry into the Iran-Contra arms sale. North also was convicted of ordering the destruction of documents and accepting an illegal gratuity. On July 5, 1989, Gesell probated North's three-year prison sentence, but fined him $150,000, sentenced him to 1,200 hours community service and placed him on two years' probation. These convictions, however, were subsequently vacated by an appeals court, because North had been granted immunity for his testimony to Congress. After further hearings on the immunity issue, Judge Gesell dismissed all charges against North on September 16, 1991.[4]